DIY Gifts for the Holidays

Wrap up DIY gifts this holiday season. At Williams Sonoma, there are gifts for crafters, cooks and other DIY enthusiasts. You'll find everything from homemade bread mix to craft beer kits, along with cookie-decorating kits and sets for making creme brulee.

Types of DIY Gifts

There are DIY gifts for almost every culinary hobbyist. The DIY Sushi Kit contains everything you need to make authentic sushi at home -- excluding the fresh ingredients of your choice for the filling. There's a bamboo mat for rolling, with enough sushi rice, nori, rice vinegar powder and wasabi powder for eight 6-piece rolls. Also included is a detailed booklet with recipes and instructions.

There are other Williams-Sonoma brand DIY food kits from which to choose, including:

• DIY Sourdough Kit
• DIY Ravioli Kit
• DIY Mochi Ice Cream Kit
• DIY Fortune Cookie Kit

You'll also find DIY cheese kits from Urban Cheesecraft and an Oyster Mushroom Log Kit for growing fresh mushrooms. There are multiple cookie-making kits from various brands and the Cuisine R-Evolution Molecular Cuisine Starter Kit for those interested in molecular gastronomy. This kit has items for creating spherified, emulsified and jellified foods in a wide variety of flavours, as seen on the hit TV show Top Chef.

Top Gifts for Crafters

There are plenty of gifts for crafters, whether they want to put together a gingerbread house or an artisanal cocktail. The Gingerbread Cookie Kit is another option. It comes with ready-made gingerbread cookies and a decorating kit with all the adornments, including white frosting, coloured sugars, gumdrops and sprinkles.

One example of a cocktail kit is the Vodka Lover Cocktail Kit, which includes a sturdy glass infusion bottle and six flavour blend packets in three flavours, so you get two of each flavour. One packet is enough for a regular-sized bottle of vodka (375ml). Even if your gift recipient has never made infused liquor before, the detailed instructions make it easy.

There are also cocktail mixes and kits for gin and whiskey lovers. The Williams Sonoma IPA Craft Beer Kit has all the necessary supplies and ingredients for making a gallon of beer or ten 12-ounce bottles. There's grain, hops, malt, ice and yeast -- along with a brew pot, strainer and glass bottles with swing tops. The equipment is reusable, and there's a detailed guide to brewing craft beer included.

Browse the DIY gifts at Williams Sonoma to find plenty of ideas for most everyone on your holiday list. For the foodies who aren't necessarily the DIY type, there's an excellent selection of ready-made treats, ranging from soft, Parisian-style croissants to cakes, cookies and savoury treats such as charcuterie and cheese assortments.

Creating an Elegant Presentation

After you've chosen your DIY gifts or gifts for crafters, wrap them up in decorative paper or tuck them into a gift bag. You can make boxed gifts even more special with a coordinating ribbon and bow. Line gift bags with tissue paper that matches the bag to conceal the gift inside. Whether you choose to box or bag your presents, make sure to include a handwritten note with each one for a personal touch.